EP. 108 IT'S HALLOWEEN! Our Top 10 Halloween Movies: From Classics To Cult Favorites

Send us Fan MailThree longtime friends sit down to build the ultimate Halloween watchlist—and accidentally write a love letter to the entire horror genre. We start with a simple premise: the best movies to watch in October don’t need jack-o’-lanterns on screen, they just need that unmistakable fall feeling. From Universal monsters to modern slashers, from moody thrillers to cult parodies, we mix personal favorites with film craft insights and the kind of late-night stories only movie nerds can tell.We dig into what actually makes a film scary. Is it the gore, or the restraint? Halloween (1978) becomes our North Star: a tiny budget, an unforgettable synth theme, and a shape that rises when the frame goes quiet. Friday the 13th gets credit for a perfect twist and inventive kills, while Scream earns its place as a meta reset that taught an entire generation to spot tropes. Poltergeist blends suburban comfort with spectral chaos, and Fright Night slyly weaves faith, folklore, and teenage panic. Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula shows how practical effects and novel fidelity can still feel lush and dangerous, and The Shining turns isolation into a pressure cooker where sound is the real knife.We also roam the deeper stacks. Vincent Price and The Raven prove horror can grin while it chills. Jaws and Duel show how music and editing transform everyday spaces into threat zones. Phantasm’s tall man and silver sphere highlight indie ambition and dream logic. The Purge pushes into social horror, where the monster looks a lot like us. And at the foundation sits Frankenstein (1931), the blueprint for American gothic: iconic makeup, towering sets, and a creature that taught generations how to stage tragedy and menace.Expect spirited debate, production lore (yes, Michael Myers wears a repainted Captain Kirk mask), and the occasional tangent about midnight screenings and wired theater seats. Most of all, expect a watchlist that respects mood, myth, and meaning as much as body count. If you love October for its atmosphere and stories that linger, you’re in the right place.Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and drop your top three Halloween must-watches in the comments. Share it with a friend who thinks they’ve seen it all—what did we miss?Support the showThanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAMI also welcome your comments. email: [email protected]